Photos from a High School Lacrosse Game

Went to a high school lacrosse game, browse my flickr photo set

http://www.flickr.com/photos/82638344@N00/sets/72157594144454435/

Technorati Tags: Photos

Thank you !!!

Hey, I passed 100 hits on my blog!! Thats pretty amazing for two main reasons. 1) I'm pretty sure I do not produce any material worth consumption and 2) I'm pretty sure that only 3 people access my blog. My dad, and one of my co-workers. I occasional browse it as well, to make 3.

So to any of you random web-surfers out there, I must thank you for you time, however brief it is, that you spend on "Tylers new blog".

Andre is Stud

I just found out from a NPR story, that Andre Agassi has raised 52 Million dollars for under-privileged children...pretty cool.

Beyond Riding my bike to work

I feel like I've moved beyond just "riding my bike to work" which seems to be a pleasant activity to be done on nice days. Today it was pouring rain. I donned my rain pants and rain coat and *chose* to ride today....(given I only ride to the train station and not to work, mostly b/c it is 38 miles to the office and 1.5 miles to the train station)...but I did choose to ride to the train station in pouring rain, in my work clothes under my rain gear....I guess I need to feel I'm a little more nutty/tough/commited than my real life would lead to believe....

Paid off my CAR!!!!

Hoooorrraaaayyy!!! made my last car payment today. Title should in the mail (was held by the lending company until debt was repaid)...

Always nice to knock off one big, recurring, monthly expenditure...

Missing Quarters

I collect quarters, and I'm currently missing the following Philly mint quarters ( I also collect quarters from the Denver mint, but they are not in a book, so it is hard to list what I am missing...)

But for the Philly mint quarters I am missing
2003 - Arkansas
2004 - Michigan
2004 - Wisconsin
2006 - Nebraska
2006 - Colorado
2006 - North Dakota
2006 - South Dakota

Obviously I'm missing all 2007's, 2008's

Sucker Award...

I today, just got a ten-year service award letter...yikers, can't believe i've been here 10 years....they should call it the sucker award....

Civic duty ramblings

I was thinking about civic duty today, its not as random as it sounds, but the background is a pretty long story, so I'll spare you the details.

Back to my point, it seems to me, that in society today, Jury Duty is the only legally enforced form of Civic responsibility. Laws are in place to ensure workers are not harmed by participating in jury duty. Laws are also in place requiring citizens to participate in Jury Duty. So Jury duty is a hands on way, legally encouraged, vehicle for participation in the governmental process.

So the thought goes like this. Create some laws that set aside time for other forms of participation. My premise, is that people partake in Jury duty, because they are obligated to take time out to participate. I think if people were forced to take time out to participate in other civic activities they would. One example may be a community consortium, that would run the have access to the Mayor, or Governor, or some other direct access of governmental process. The forum would allow citizens more direct voice in governing.

So similar to Jury duty, you'd have to report to civic duty for a short period (2 - 3 weeks). This would have the same status as Jury duty, (in my head, you'd only have to do one or the other every 2 years, so serving civic duty gets you out of both for 2 years, and vice versa).

I guess the unspoken sentiment, is that representation in this country does not seem equally distributed. Lobbyist can bombard politicians with information and/or propaganda and thus have some degree of direct influence over the process. The average person, in my opinion, feels powerless and voiceless. Which is one reason why I think the US has such low voter turn-outs. I can write to my senator, but is that as effective as a 25 page, professionally produced presentation, over a $300 meal ? I suspect the glossy documents will get more face time.

But imagine, you have 2 weeks with the mayor, or city council, or state legislatures, or your Senator. To really address issues, get any information need, have direct access. What would you say if you had the chance ? What suggestions would you make ? How would you fix the problems of today ? What questions would you want asked ? I think people would talk more [about policy], care more [about politics], if there was someone there to listen.

I know there are issues that would need to be addressed, if something like this were to be implemented, but it seems to me, to be a positive thought. I think we might be surprised at what people can achieve once they recognize the opportunity.

Technorati Tags: Political Thoughts